Local baseball top 10 of 2013

The countdown is on. It’s time to view the top ten stories with local baseball ties from 2013. This past year I was able to put together a list of the top 100 minor-league baseball players to come through this area, so I’m hopeful that I can come up with at least ten worthwhile moments/events from 2013. Even if 2013 was a sub par year for New York baseball fans.

Just missing the cut on here, legendary Yankees manager Joe Torre getting elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the whole Alex Rodriguez fiasco, 2013 number one overall pick Mark Appel starting for the Tri-City ValleyCats and former ValleyCats Jason Castro and Ben Zobrist making the A.L. All-Star team. Also, while not so much local, the Pittsburgh Pirates finally having a winning season and making the playoffs for the first time since 1992.

On that note, the best cuts to make the cut from 2013.

10.) Mohawks go back to back: For the second consecutive season, the Amsterdam Mohawks capture the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League title. In 2013, the Mohawks went a league best 31-16 in the regular season. During post season play, Amsterdam knocked off Albany and then Elmira for the championship.

9.) Casper Wells will play anywhere and everywhere: The Schenectady, NY native and outfielder, who signed this off-season with the Chicago Cubs, racked up the frequent flyer miles. In 2013, Wells went from the Seattle Mariners to the Toronto Blue Jays, to the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago White Sox and that was just April! In August, Wells went from the ChiSox to the Philadelphia Phillies. Not only did Wells play in 41 games, he also pitched in two. Best of luck to Casper with the Cubbies and if that doesn’t work out, breaking Octavio Dotel’s uniform record.

CHICAGO, IL – MAY 12: Casper Wells #39 of the Chicago White Sox hits a double in the 2nd inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at U.S. Cellular Field on May 12, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 28: Casper Wells #39 outfielder of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Cleveland Indians during the ninth inning in the first game of a doubleheader on June 28, 2013 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox 19-10. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

8.) Mets host All-Star Game: This should be higher and the Mets did a superb job with all of the aesthetics, see Tom Seaver handing off the torch to N.L. starter Matt Harvey. Yet this game was primarily memorable for Mariano Rivera winning the MVP and he pitched the eighth inning! That and Neil Diamond awkwardly singing and dancing around the Citi Field infield. It was the Seinfeld All-Star Game, in that it was the All-Star Game about nothing.

7.) Yanks and Mets (sort of) open wallets: Chalk it up to how bad our other New York sports teams are but even as bad as our New York baseball locals were in 2013, they still warm our hearts and win the back pages during the winter. The Yankees scooped up Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian Roberts and Matt Thornton, while the Mets made a splash with Curtis Granderson and picked up Chris Young and Bartolo Colon.

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 13: Centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury answers questions from the press during his introductory press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 13, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

6.) A cup of Cano: Robinson Cano went for the Starbucks in Seattle. From an Empire State of Mind to the Emerald City. Even though the Yankees were willing to go for more money per year, the Mariners gave Cano more years and what tied for the third largest pact in baseball history. Cano won’t get Monument Park or the $300 million that Jay Z promised him but he will have ten years on paper in the Pacific Northwest.

SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 12: Robinson Cano of the Seattle Mariners speaks to guests after his introductory press conference at Safeco Field on December 12, 2013 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

5.) Andy Pettitte retires again: The former Albany-Colonie Yankees great called it a career once again. In his 18-year career, Pettitte won five World Series and never registered a losing record. Pettitte went 11-11 with an ERA of 3.74, capped off with a complete game victory in Houston. Pettitte and his 19 playoff wins wasn’t always perfect but he was always a gamer.

4.) Matt Harvey mania: Every fifth day was a “Harvey Day” and a reason for Mets and baseball fans alike to watch the Mets. As mentioned above, Harvey started the All-Star Game and finished fourth in N.L. Cy Young voting. Harvey went 9-5, with an ERA of 2.27 and 191 K’s. More unfortunate than the poor run support he received, Harvey had to be shut down and had Tommy John surgery.

3.) Exit Sandman: It was the summer of Mo, a send off for Mariano Rivera. The legendary former Albany-Colonie Yankees pitcher, closed out the best career a closer could ever have. Rivera received numerous gifts and tributes from opposing clubs, won the All-Star Game MVP, Comeback Player of the Year honors and had his number 42 retired by the Yankees in Monument Park. Rivera recorded 44 saves in 2013 and finished his career with 652 saves. Rivera also retires with the top adjusted ERA in the history of the game. A five-time World Series champion and 1999 World Series MVP, there will never be another Mo.

2.) Boston Red Sox win it all: From worst to first to World Series champions. The Red Sox rallied with a new manager in John Farrell and a new theme of bearded bros. Boston went from 69-93 to 97-65 and underwent a complete overhaul. After winning the A.L. East, Boston toppled Tampa Bay, Detroit and St. Louis in the post-season. David Ortiz was beyond clutch, Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino proved to be shrewd signings Jon Lester and John Lackey were bulldogs and Koji Uehara was lights out. With the chokers and malcontents gone, Boston fans once again had a team they could be proud of.

1.) Tri-City ValleyCats Vamos Gatos champs: Topping the list of feel good baseball stories on the local front, the Tri-City ValleyCats took home their second New York Pennsylvania League title in franchise history. A year after the ‘Cats ran roughshod through the NYPL and came up just one victory shy of a championship, they were able to find a way to get it done in 2013. Tri-City started off hot to begin the campaign but had its share of peaks and valleys, especially in the hitting department. Ultimately though it was power pitching and timely hitting, which allowed the ValleyCats to overtake the Lowell Spinners for the Stedler Division, sweep the Aberdeen IronBirds in the divisional playoffs and go on the road and take the crown against the State College Spikes. Call it a comeback, call it a mini-dynasty, as the ‘Cats have three title appearances and two titles in the span of four seasons. Vamos Gatos, a lucky ’13 indeed!